Women in Leadership
Leading from the heart
CAPE TOWN ICC CEO TAUBIE MOTLHABANE TALKS TO PAUL COLSTON ABOUT HER CAREER
W omen were very influential in shaping your character , right ? My mom was my first role model . As a schoolteacher , she was passionate about education – this is why I believe in life-long learning . She instilled in my sisters and me the value of independence and helped us believe that we could achieve our dreams if we remained focused and worked hard . Mom was also a disciplinarian , so we were clear about our boundaries .
How did you come into the meetings industry ? I began my journey at the South African Reserve Bank as the manager : Protocol & Conferences . My team was responsible for all the Bank ’ s conferences and events , as well as managing the Bank ’ s conference centre . From there I worked in corporate , managing incentive and marketing events . Then I joined South African Tourism as business tourism manager which fuelled my passion for showcasing destinations and highlighted the transformative power of business events . I further honed my expertise internationally as events and marketing manager at the City Centre Hotel in Bahrain . Additionally , I held the role of executive director of the Tshwane CVB in Pretoria . This foundation prepared me
Above : Taubie Motlhabane
for my current role of CEO of the Cape Town International Convention Centre ( CTICC ).
With a Bachelor ’ s Degree in Communication from North-West University and a Master ’ s Degree in Global Marketing from the University of Liverpool – where my research focused on convention and visitor bureaus – I developed a deep interest in the potential of business events to drive economic growth and global connections .
What have been the strategies that have enabled you to get to the top of your profession ? Collaboration is a key ingredient to success . We don ’ t exist in isolation .
The more we work together with our partners to find solutions , the stronger we are . It is about building win-win solutions . It must be about the team . It can never be about any single individual . My success mantra has always been rooted in maintaining a positive mindset , even when challenges seem insurmountable .
How does CTICC help develop its female staff for leadership ? The representation of women in leadership roles in South Africa has been evolving , driven by legislative frameworks emphasising gender diversity and inclusivity . At the CTICC , women hold senior roles . Studies show that companies with diverse teams are more innovative , make better decisions , and perform better financially .
Who do you consider to be an influential mentor in your career ? I ’ ve had many amazing people cross my path during the course of my career and had the privilege of learning from some of the best .
The late Mr Tito Mboweni , former governor of the South African Reserve Bank and former minister of finance , was one such mentor . He helped me appreciate the power of ethical conduct and good governance practices in business and to lead by good example .
Mr Deon Cloete , the immediate past chairman of the CTICC Board , has taught me how to lead from the heart and be brave enough to dream big . I have learnt so much from many leaders in the industry and still have a lot to learn . n
Left : Cape Town International Convention Centre
The CTICC , in the 2022 / 2023 financial year , hosted 427 events with 275,000 attendees .
Over the past 20 years it has contributed R60bn to the national GDP and R51.5bn to the Western Cape ’ s GGP , as well as creating and sustaining 156,000 jobs across South Africa .
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